Giro D'Italia Stage 14: Cittadella - Monte Zoncolan

Mefistofelino

Only two "proper" climbs today, so an easy one 😉




Apparently they are ascending the Zoncolan from the easy side


For history fans, the descent of the second categorised climb today - Forcella Monte Rest- is where Roche put team mate Visentini to the sword in the '87 Giro. As his mechanic, Patrick Valcke said on the day " Stephen- if you have balls, now is the time to show them"
Quite.

Mefistofelino

Decent 12 rider breakaway 7'36" up the road containing the likes of George Bennett and Bauke Mollema

Nicolas Edet ( Cofidis) is out after a crash. Looked like collarbone

dastardly00

Sounds like the weather is brutal on the Zoncolon

mewso

Mefistofelino wrote: »

Decent 12 rider breakaway 7'36" up the road containing the likes of George Bennett and Bauke Mollema

Nicolas Edet ( Cofidis) is out after a crash. Looked like collarbone

Ponomar, the 18 year old, is in the break. Give him a clip round the ear if he wins.

Mefistofelino

dastardly00 wrote: »

Sounds like the weather is brutal on the Zoncolon

Four degrees and covered in cloud

https://zoncolan.panomax.com/

Reality_Check1

Rider in the break just threw a bidon to a fan....

dastardly00

Ned Boulting & Matt Stevens on the chair lift up the Zoncolon this morning

https://twitter.com/nedboulting/status/1396026853530406914

dastardly00

Reality_Check1 wrote: »

Rider in the break just threw a bidon to a fan....

The UCI have changed the rules and riders are allowed to do it now

Reality_Check1

dastardly00 wrote: »

The UCI have changed the rules and riders are allowed to do it now

Ah fair play I didn't know it had changed - proper order

Mefistofelino

Years back while spectaying on the old Nissan Classic, a rider threw a bidon to a young lad on the run-in. One of the older spectators with us ( a former international) tells the kid " For Jaysus sake, don't drink that - you won't sleep for a fortnight"

Inquitus

Will Bernal continue to stamp his authority on the race or will one of his rivals claw back some time on the final slopes of the Monte Zoncolan, we will find out in just under 2 hours time. Vlasov has been quietly biding his time, be interesting to see how he goes today! Anyone from 6th downwards in the GC should probably be targetting taking some time back on Bernal today to re-kickstart their GC ambitions in the race!

mewso

Much as I am happy for Bernal to be totally recovered from injury finally and riding well like most neutrals I would like to see some kind of opposition. The last thing we need is to go into the final week with Bernal having 3+ minutes on the field.

Brian?

I actually don't care who wins today. I'd prefer not Bernal to keep the race competitive.

But lads, it's the Zoncolan. Epic is way overused these days, but this climb is absolutely EPIC!

The greatest climb ever, IMO.

mewso

Brian? wrote: »

The greatest climb ever, IMO.

From either side?

Inquitus

Vlasov is a better TT'er than Bernal, 15 seconds faster in the 10km Prologue ITT hints that he could perhaps take 45 secs to 1 minute out of Bernal on the final stage, so Bernal will need to extend his lead on the big climbs that start today. Be interesting to see how those 2 compare today!

Brian?

mewso wrote: »

From either side?

From one side yes. The other side is the 2nd greatest.

Brian?

Inquitus wrote: »

Vlasov is a better TT'er than Bernal, 15 seconds faster in the 10km Prologue ITT hints that he could perhaps take 45 secs to 1 minute out of Bernal on the final stage, so Bernal will need to extend his lead on th big climbs that start today. Be interesting to see how those 2 compare today!

Astana looking to do damage. Vlasov must be feeling good

Inquitus

The Final Climb (Monte Zoncolon), some insane ramps along the way in the final 3km! 22%, 25%, 27%!

Full Climb



The last 3km

dastardly00

Brilliant work from Astana

mr spuckler

Yeah Astana have animated this far earlier than I expected!

Brian?

Inquitus wrote: »

The Final Climb (Monte Zoncolon), some insane ramps along the way in the final 3km! 22%, 25%, 27%!

Full Climb



The last 3km

And that’s he easier side!!!

Inquitus

Is it all back together now or is Remco still not in the main chasing bunch? Watching the Monaco F1 qualifying with no sound on the cycling!

mr spuckler

Inquitus wrote: »

Is it all back together now or is Remco still not in the main chasing bunch? Watching the Monaco F1 qualifying with no sound on the cycling!

All back together

dastardly00

I can see that Dan has two team mates with him in the peloton

dastardly00

Affini's facial expression :pac:

eagle eye

Time for the pain now. Great climbers have been found out on this climb.

Brian?

Remco is too far back. He’s going to lose minutes again. Hopefully Vlasov can do something big.

Brian?

The scenery is unbelievable

Reality_Check1

Vlasov to attack Benal up the last 3km hopefully

Inquitus

Brian? wrote: »

Remco is too far back. He’s going to lose minutes again. Hopefully Vlasov can do something big.

Agreed, I think Vlasov and Yates are probably the biggest threats to Bernal going forwards, Remco's 9 months away from racing has caught up with him, I can't see him challenging for the GC as time goes on.

dastardly00

I'm pretty optimistic that Dan is going to put in a good performance.

I think Bernal will gain time on all his rivals. And Remco will lose a good chunk of time. Still not sure what form Yates & Carthy are in.

retalivity

Nibbles gone

Brian?

The limited number of fans really takes something away

happytramp

Hang in there... We might yet still get our 5 minutes of excitement.

at1withmyself

happytramp wrote: »

Hang in there... We might yet still get our 5 minutes of excitement.

I think the last hour has been brilliant, I hope the break make it!

Come-on Fortunato!!!!

Dcully

No wonder Contador has been raving about Fortunato he's a mirror image of his own style.

Mefistofelino

Brian? wrote: »

The limited number of fans really takes something away

Dunno. Perhaps they should shoot the remainder.

dastardly00

That fcuking idiot of a spectator

mewso

Wow they look like me on 5%.

at1withmyself

Weepsie wrote: »

Should be allowed slap spectators who get that close. Moron

You could see the other fans grab him in the back ground and push him a side! Idiot

Swinging there, I was afraid he'd catch him for a bit.

ednwireland

surface looks better and wider than it was a few years ago

retalivity

God i hate Ineos

eagle eye

Great performance from Fortunato. Delighted for him.

eagle eye

Bernal is different gravy.

neris

Ineos procession for the next week

mewso

Game over. Pity.

Reality_Check1

What a class stage - I was gritting my teeth watching them climb at the end. Animals

Coneygree

Bernal is in a different league when he's healthy.

Brian?

dastardly00 wrote: »

I'm pretty optimistic that Dan is going to put in a good performance.

I think Bernal will gain time on all his rivals. And Remco will lose a good chunk of time. Still not sure what form Yates & Carthy are in.

Great ride by Dan. Pity his wife doesn’t want him riding on gravel.